Hughes said Salt Lake City's mayor needs to be working to address the issues that exist within the community, such as making health care more accessible.

A question submitted by Equality Utah, a grass-roots advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, asked what candidates thought about implementing employment nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation. According to Equality Utah, 82 cities and counties across the nation require private employers in their jurisdictions to have such policies.

Mayoral candidate and state House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake, said he thinks such a policy in Salt Lake is a "very attractive proposal."

"There's no place in our society for discrimination," Becker said. "I would be happy and pleased as mayor to promote this policy."

Centro Civico Mexicano director John Renteria agreed, saying such a step "represents good social and economic policy."

"We need to bring businesses and community leaders together to discuss a strategy (to implement the idea)," said Renteria, a Democrat.

Schoolteacher Robert Comstock, a Democrat, was the only candidate who did not participate in the debate. The field of eight will be narrowed to two in a Sept. 11 primary, and the general election will be held Nov. 6.

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